Obama Campaigns in Ohio for Democrats, Targeting Trump on Iran War and Prices

Former President Barack Obama took to the campaign trail on Saturday, holding a rally in Cleveland, Ohio, for Democratic candidates and sharply criticizing the Trump administration over the war with Iran and the cost of living, BBC News reported. The appearance comes as early voting is underway ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, which will determine which party controls Congress for the rest of President Donald Trump's term.

Trump, meanwhile, cast his early ballot in Florida and was due to travel to Georgia later in the day to speak at a rally for Republican candidates, according to the BBC.

What Obama said in Ohio

Obama urged voters to use the midterms to check the administration. He described the election as the best remaining opportunity to rein in what he called foolishness in the White House, and said Democrats need to flip a "circuit breaker in the system" to bring accountability, the BBC reported.

On the economy, Obama said he understood why some voters turned away from Democrats in 2024 over inflation and economic worries that followed the Covid pandemic. But he argued that Trump is responsible for the state of the economy now, saying prices have risen further since the president took office, according to the BBC.

He also said the war with Iran has handed Tehran leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that was open to marine traffic before hostilities began in February. Obama additionally poked fun at the president's renovation of the White House, the BBC said.

In Ohio, Obama backed former Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Republican Sen. John Husted, and Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate for governor against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy. He criticized Ramaswamy over a campaign ad released this week that featured Acton's estranged mother. Acton also spoke at the rally and said Ramaswamy had chosen to exploit her childhood to rescue a struggling campaign, the BBC reported. Later Saturday, Obama was scheduled to appear in Michigan on behalf of Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

How Trump responded

Asked about the Iran war on Saturday afternoon, Trump said he had handled it very effectively and might have to finish it off, or that Iran might make a deal, though he said he was unsure. "Either way, we win," he told reporters, according to the BBC.

The president has faced significant pressure to bring down oil prices, which have jumped because of the wars involving Iran and Ukraine, the BBC reported. It added that he recently struck a deal with Russia to export the country's diesel to the United States, which drew pushback from lawmakers in both parties.

What's at stake for voters

The two sides are making competing arguments about the same issue. Democrats are casting the midterms as a referendum on prices and the Iran war, with Obama tying the cost of living directly to the administration's decisions. Trump is defending his handling of the conflict and presenting it as a success whatever the outcome.

For voters, the practical question is who will hold the majority in Congress for the remainder of Trump's presidency. That majority decides how much scrutiny the administration faces and whether it can advance its agenda, and it will shape how Washington responds to high fuel and consumer prices. Both parties are using high-profile appearances in competitive states to turn out supporters while early voting is open.

What happens next

Obama's Michigan appearance and Trump's Georgia rally were both planned for later Saturday. The midterm elections take place on Nov. 3.

Around Prague, based on reporting by BBC News